The University of Maine hockey program, which was affected by three separate NCAA eligibility problems last season, has suffered another setback as it prepares for the 1994-95 season.

The NCAA has ruled that Mike Latendresse, who has been preparing for what he thought would be his senior season on the Maine hockey team, has used up all his collegiate athletic eligibility.

Latendresse’s status came into question during the university’s continuing internal review of all student-athletes’ records. UMaine sports information director Matt Bourque said Latendresse’s case was referred to the NCAA.

The university has not committed any NCAA violations in this case. Instead, it has avoided one by addressing the situation prior to the start of the hockey season.

That’s no consolation to Latendresse, who is upset by the timing of the discovery by the university and the ensuing NCAA ruling.

“I’m so disappointed and frustrated,” Latendresse said. “If I would have known that last year was my last season, I would have gotten prepared for a pro contract. I could have gone to Europe this summer, but now it’s too late.”

Latendresse, a 23-year-old winger from Montreal, was Maine’s leading goal-scorer and point-producer last winter with 20 goals and 19 assists in 33 games. He was an All-Hockey East second-team pick.

With the NHL on strike and European leagues already under way, Latendresse’s hockey options for this season are virtually nil.

“I’m scared a little bit of not being able to play,” admitted Latendresse, who has not been drafted by a pro team. “Right now, there’s nowhere to go. I’ll probably lose a year of hockey.”

When Latendresse enrolled at UMaine in 1991, he was considered what the NCAA terms a partial qualifier. That means he did not meet all of the NCAA’s initial eligibility requirements and, therefore, was entitled to only three seasons of eligibility under NCAA bylaw 14.3.3 (a).

However, Latendresse also had played four games for a Canadian Major Junior A hockey team during the 1990-91 season. Those teams are defined in NCAA bylaw 12.2.3.2.4 as professional teams.

Under that rule, Latendresse was forced to forfeit another year of eligibility for his pro competition, which left him with only two years of athletic eligibility.

With his hockey career temporarily on hold, Latendresse plans to hit the weights and the books. He said he is three semesters shy of earning his degree in business.

“I’ve got a few options, but the most intelligent one is stay in school and use my scholarship,” he said. “I’m going to work hard in the weightlifting room to be ready in case anything happens.”

Maine coach Shawn Walsh could be reached for comment.

Doug Woolard, one of three finalists for the University of Maine athletic director job, was named the new director of athletics at St. Louis University on Monday.

Woolard had been vying with John “Jack” McDonald, the director of athletics and recreation at the University of Denver, and James “Butch” Worley, the associate athletics director for administration at the University of Texas, for the Maine post.

UMaine president Fred Hutchinson is expected to announce his choice for athletic director soon.

Woolard, 44, the associate director of athletics at Washington State for the last six years, will start work Oct. 31. He replaces Debbie Yow, now the AD at Maryland.

Woolard, a native of Illinois, will direct an athletic program that includes a men’s basketball program that gained national attention last year when it climbed into the Top 25 for the first time in 29 years.

The soccer program also is consistently ranked in the top 20 and is a national title contender.